Repeated head impacts and early-life risks tied to dementia in older Black men
The Contributions of Repetitive Head Impacts and Early Life Contextual Risk Factors to Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias in Older Adult Black Men
This work looks at whether repeated head impacts and early-life disadvantages raise the chance of memory problems and dementia in older Black men.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11144458 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are an older Black man, researchers may ask about past head injuries, contact sports, and childhood schooling or neighborhood conditions. They will collect medical and sports histories, give memory and mood tests, and do brain MRI scans and possibly blood or spinal fluid samples to look for dementia-related changes. The team will compare people with different levels of head-impact exposure and early-life risks to see how those factors relate to thinking skills, mood, and brain structure. The aim is to better explain higher dementia rates in Black men and point toward prevention or tailored care.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older Black men, especially those with a history of contact sports, head injuries, or concerns about memory, would be the most likely candidates.
Not a fit: People without a history of head impacts, non-Black individuals, or those seeking immediate treatment rather than participation in observational research are less likely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify who is at higher risk and support earlier, more personalized prevention and care for older Black men facing dementia risk.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies show links between repeated head impacts or traumatic brain injury and later cognitive decline, but combining those exposures with early-life social and environmental risks in older Black men is a relatively new approach.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Turner, Robert W. — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Turner, Robert W.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.